Within Temptation unveil title of sixth studio album

Dutch symphonic rockers Within Temptation have revealed that their sixth studio album will be released on 31st January 2014 and shall be titled Hydra. For those who are unfamiliar with Greek mythology, Hydra is the name of a nine-headed monster that apparently could not be killed. Guitarist Robert comments on the album title:

It’s like us. What’s more, Hydra is a perfect title for our new album, because like the monster itself, the record represents the many different sides of our music.

Within Temptation collaborated with several special guests on Hydra: Tarja Turunen, Dave Pirner of Soul Asylum and metalcore hero Howard Jones, formerly of Killswitch Engage as well as US hip-hop icon Xzibit. Robert also comments:

Xzibit is amazing. And We Run song is about how you’ve got to live your life now. He’s rapping at full force on this song, it’s really heavy.

Sharon adds:

Xzibit brings a new element to our music that we’ve never had before! It’s a new cross-over and we love it!

As for the near-legendary Tarja, Sharon recalls:

The way she delivers those high melody lines left us all speechless. We had a great time, and the fans responded beyond our expectations.

One of the album’s heaviest tracks, Dangerous was recorded with the former Killswitch Engage singer Howard Jones, whose epic vocals are a perfect fit for Sharon’s. Frontwoman Sharon comments about Howard:

I always loved Howard’s voice. He makes the song even heavier than it already is. That song is one of my favorite songs on the record and one of the fastest we’ve ever written. It has the most bass drums we’ve ever used, too, and a very fast riff which we doubled with synths. It’s not a typical synthesizer, though – it’s distorted like a guitar, and it’s very aggressive.

Right now, Hydra can be pre-ordered in two luxury formats: the Digital premium version and a Deluxe Box Set including extra Hydra products.

The digital premium album, complete with digi-booklet, will be available on iTunes and includes 18 audio tracks and a music video. The digital premium album features bonus Evolution Versions of four new songs, which contain audio commentary from Robert and Sharon and give you unique access to the development of the songs, their lyrical inspiration and the sound of the initial demos and vocals.